DOVER— A fire at a multibuilding Westgate Village apartment complex remains under investigation after several departments battled the blaze Monday afternoon.

Residents gathered on lawns of neighboring apartment buildings while fire personnel from at least eight local departments responded to the scene reported at 2:31 p.m. They fought a three-alarm fire, which damaged several units located at 5 Western Avenue. Along Route 155, heavy, black smoke could be viewed billowing from the scene.

According to Dover Fire Chief Richard Driscoll, each of the 12 units were occupied when the fire, which officials believe originated in an alcove between two of the buildings, began.

Residents were evacuated with the assistance of the Dover Police Department, who maintained a perimeter around the scene. The Red Cross stepped in to assist those displaced by the fire.

Beverly Higgs, who was asleep when a neighbor knocked on the door alerting her to the fire, said she immediately called the fire department. Higgs said she grabbed her cat, keys and glasses and got out of the apartment as quickly as she could. When she stepped outside, she described the smoke as being so thick, she was unable to see her car in the parking lot and used the sidewalk as a guide.

"It was that quick," she said of the rate at which the smoke developed.

Firefighters continued to tear portions of the roof away to allow smoke and heat out of the buildings.

Four buildings were directly damaged by fire, while at least another four suffered smoke and water damage. He said the fire spread very quickly once it ignited.

John Huff/Democrat Photos

One person was treated on scene for minor scratches on an arm gained while evacuating. No one was seriously injured or transported for medical care.

Fire Departments from Dover, Durham, Rollinsford, Somersworth, South Berwick, Maine, Rochester, Pease and Newington responded to the scene along with the Dover Police Department while additional station coverage was provided by Berwick, Maine and Newmarket fire departments.